Portable folding lounging recliner

ABSTRACT

A sturdy foldable lounging recliner with foldable trapezoidal legs, which when unfolded, forms a trapezoidal base to provide adequate chair support even when placed on uneven ground.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of the provisional patentapplication entitled “Portable Folding Lounging Chair”; Ser. No.60/923,126 filed Apr. 12, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to chairs and recliners. In particular, itrelates to a portable folding lounging recliner employing trapezoidallegs forming a fulcrum base.

2. Description of Related Art

Various recliners are known. Nagan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,265issued Sep. 21, 1993 is a lounge chair with a continuous fabric covercovering a hinged frame, with folding legs and adjustable joints, whichdoesn't have trapezoidal shaped leg supports, or leg supports held at anobtuse angle relative to the bottom of the seat so that the contact areais wider than the seat support segment to provide additional lateralsupport. Pedemonte, U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,231, issued Jun. 11, 2002 is aMulti-Function Transportable Recreation Chair of box-like foldingconstruction with a similar leg support construction as Nagan et al.'265. Williams, U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,874 issued Aug. 27, 1991 is afolding beach lounge without legs with seat and leg rests lying on theground, when unfolded. Wallace, U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,479, issued Aug. 15,2000 is a locking pivot connection for a cot-chair. Ryan, U.S. Pat. No.5,947,561 issued Sep. 7, 1999 is an adjustable tanning chair apparatuswith face support rollers with folding legs, which don't form atrapezoidal base, or leg supports held at an obtuse angle relative tothe bottom of the seat. Levy et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,413 issued Jul.4, 1995 is a folding lounge chair with crossed leg construction. Nation,U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,034, issued Aug. 8, 2003 is a maternity beach chairof a unique covered frame design structured to accommodate pregnantwomen lying on their face. Chu, U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,605, issued Sep. 28,2004, is a folding recliner of a complex frame construction.

None of these patents provide a portable foldable lounging recliner witha trapezoidal shaped leg supports held at an obtuse angle relative tothe bottom of the seat.

The present invention described below provides a sturdy foldablelounging recliner with foldable trapezoidal shaped legs, which whenunfolded, and held at an obtuse angle relative to the bottom of the seatsegment of the frame provides adequate support even when placed onuneven ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a foldable lounging recliner. It comprises afoldable lounging recliner or chair with a tri-segmented tubular frame.The tri-segmented tubular foldable frame has a tubular U-shaped frametorso segment with open ends sized to accommodate the head and uppertorso of a user. The ends of this U-shaped frame torso segment arehingedly attached to the first ends of a pair of sides with first andsecond ends, the sides of a length to accommodate the seat and posteriorof a user. The second ends of the sides are hingedly attached to theends of a corresponding tubular U-shaped frame leg support segment withopen ends and sides sized to accommodate the legs of a user. Thesehingedly connected frame segments are secured with releaseable lockinghinges to hold them open at various angles for a user to sit or reclineat a desired angle. Thus, each frame segment is positioned relative toone another and then releasably locked into position, when the framesegments are unfolded for use. For transport and storage, they foldagainst one another for releasable locking in a storage position.

The lightweight tubular frame segments are covered with a fabric coveraffixed to each tubular frame segment to form a head and upper torsosupport surface, a seat support surface, and a leg support surface tohold a user, when sitting or lying on the covered frame segments.

A pair of tubular trapezoidal shaped open top legs with ends and feet ishingedly attached to the sides forming the seat support surface. Eachtrapezoidal leg has a shorter open top segment than its wider foot,which is structured to maintain better contact with a support surfacesegment. The tubular trapezoidal shaped leg ends are foldably attachedto each side of the U-shaped frame seat segment to form a support base.The tubular trapezoidal shaped legs are restrictively secured to foldopen at a maximum obtuse angle of approximately 110 degrees relative tothe seat support surface. Thus spread in an open position, the feetcontact the ground or support surface at points wider than the seatsegment to prevent lateral rolling. For storage and transport, eachtubular trapezoid leg is folded flat against the seat support surface ina storage and transport position.

For added rigidity, the trapezoidal shaped tubular legs may have aclosed top segment, which are hingedly attached to the bottom of theframe second segment.

A preferred embodiment of the locking hinges has a slotted base withslots affixed to the seat edges of the frame in contact with the legsupport and head and torso support frame sections. The slots are sizedsuch that a corresponding release rod of a spring retainer assemblyattached to the head and torso support and the leg support framesections releasably slide therein to lock the hinges at the desiredangle. A handle is attached to the release rod, which can then bemanually pulled to remove the release rod from a desired slot in theslotted bases to allow the hinged frame to be positioned at differentangles or folded.

The portable lounging recliner thus folds open for use and closed forstorage. In the stored position, the lounge chair frame folds flat withits trapezoidal shaped legs folding under the seat segment, the legsupport segment folding on top of the seat, and the head and torsosupport segment folding over the leg support segment.

In the open position, the trapezoidal shaped legs form a sturdytrapezoidal or pyramidal base to support the segmented frame.

The present invention thus provides a sturdy foldable lounging reclinerwith foldable trapezoidal legs, which when unfolded, provides adequatesupport even when placed on uneven ground. In addition the head andtorso and leg support segments may be positioned at the desiredelevation to accommodate the lounging preferences of a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention frame.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1with covering.

FIG. 4 is a hinge assembly of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the embodiment of the hinge assembly shown inFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 a is a top view of the unlocked hinge assembly shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 b is a side view of the locked hinge assembly shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 c is a top view of the handle attached to the lock pin of theunlocked hinge assembly shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a back view of the head and torso support attached to the seatframe.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the folded legs of the invention shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the unfolded legs of the invention shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the unfolded legs of the invention shown inFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The invention comprises a portable folding lounge chair 10 with atubular tri-segmented frame 11 with trapezoidal legs 12 covered withfabric 13, which unfolds as shown in FIGS. 3. FIG. 1 is a top view ofthe tri-segmented frame 11. It is constructed of a top U-shaped tubularframe 18 a with open ends 18 b sized to accommodate the support torsoand head of a user. Tubular Sides 14 a with ends 14 b and 14 c havetheir ends 14 b hingedly connected to the open ends 18 b of the topU-shaped tubular frame 18 a with locking hinges 20 to form a seatsegment sized to accommodate the posterior of a user. A bottom U-shapedtubular frame 16 a with open ends 16 b sized to accommodate a user'slegs are hingedly connected to the other side ends 14 c.

Trapezoidal legs 12 are foldably attached to the sides 14 a with arestrictive hinge system such that when they are opened fully, they forman obtuse angle as shown in FIG. 2 with the seat segment.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1illustrating how the trapezoidal shaped legs 12 are held at an obtuseangle relative to the seat segment.

A fabric cover 13 is attached to the segmented frame 11 as shown in FIG.3 and forms seat 14, leg support 16 and head and torso support 18segments. The fabric 13 is preferably of a durable washable constructionand is decorated or patterned to suit the preferences of a user.

The tri-segmented frame 11, in one preferred embodiment, is constructedof 1 1/16″ OD aluminum tubing bent and welded into shape. The dimensionsof the head and torso support segment 18 are approximately 21.5″×25″ OD.The dimensions of the seat segment 14 are approximately 20″×25″ OD. Thedimensions of the leg support segment 16 are approximately 19″×25″ OD.Thus constructed, the head and torso support segment 18 is the widest,and each successive segment 14 and 16 are progressively narrower so thatthe hinged segments do not bind when folded for storage.

The joints of the frame 11 have locking hinges 20 shown in FIGS. 4 andFIG. 5 to secure the leg support segment 16 and head and torso supportsegment 18 at the desired position and angle relative to the seatsegment 14. The locking hinges 20 have a slotted base 22 with slots 24.The slots 24 are sized such that a corresponding release rod 26 of aspring retainer assembly with spring 27 attached to the head and torsosupport 18 and the leg support 16 releasably slides in the slots 24 tolock the hinge 20 at the desired angle. A handle 25 is attached to therelease rod 26 via a connector 28, and can then be manually pulled toremove the release rod 26 from a desired slot 24 in the slotted bases 22to allow the hinged frame 11 to be repositioned at different angles orfolded.

FIG. 6 a, 6 b, and 6 c show the manner in which the locking hinges 20are structured and activated in a preferred embodiment FIG. 6 a shows atop view of a rubber handle cover 25 placed over a metal sliding sleeve28 a. The metal sliding sleeve 28 a is associated with the connector 28and sliding pin 26. As shown in FIG. 6 a, the sliding pin 26 is unlockedwith the spring 27 in tension.

FIG. 6 b is a side view of the rubber handle cover 25 placed over ametal sliding sleeve 28 a positioning the sliding pin 26 to fit within aslot 24 of the slotted base 22 in a pin locked position with the spring27 relaxed.

FIG. 6 c is a side view of the rubber handle cover 25 placed over ametal sliding sleeve 28 a moving the sliding pin 26 in the oppositedirection to unlock and remove the sliding pin 26 from the slot 24,freeing the hinge 20 to rotate with the spring 27 in tension.

FIG. 7 is a back view of the head and torso support 18 section attachedto the seat frame 11 with various hinging design options shown on theleft side of the drawing as a spot welded hinge pin centered to hold theends of the U-shaped frame 11 to the first ends of the sides 14together. Shown on the right side of the drawing, is a pin retainer nut& washer construction, comprising a pin and 2 pronged keeper insertedinto two pre-drilled holes in the tubing ends of the U-shaped frame 11and the first ends of the sides 14.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the folded legs 12 beneath the seat segment14 of the invention shown in FIGS. 1. The lounge chair 10 folds flat forstorage and transport, when not in use, with the trapezoidal shaped legs12 folding under the seat segment 14, the leg support segment 16 foldingon top of the seat segment 14, and the head and torso support segment 18folding over the leg support segment 16. In the open position, thetrapezoidal shaped legs 12 form a sturdy trapezoidal base to support theopened segmented frame 11 even when placed on uneven ground.

The trapezoidal shaped legs 12 have different two position lockinghinges 29, with either open or closed locking structure as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the unfolded legs 12 supporting the segmentedframe 11 of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the unfolded legs 12 supporting the segmentedframe 11 of the invention shown in FIG. 1 showing how the legs from anobtuse angle with the seat segment 14 of approximately 100 degrees toprovide lateral support to prevent rolling.

The above description and specification should not be construed aslimiting the scope of the claims. The claims themselves recite thosefeatures deemed essential to the invention

1. A foldable lounging recliner, comprising: a tri-segmented tubularfoldable frame, with i. a U-shaped frame torso segment with open endssized to accommodate the head and upper torso of a user, ii. a pair ofseat sides with first and second ends with the first ends hingedlyconnected to the U-shaped frame torso segment open ends to form arectangular shaped frame seat segment sized to accommodate the seatposterior of a user, iii. a U-shaped frame leg support segment with openends sized to accommodate the legs of a user hingedly connected to thesecond ends of the sides to be held open at various angles when in anopen position for user support, and to fold against the seat segment forstorage in a storage position, b. a fabric cover affixed to each tubularframe segment to form a head and upper torso support surface, a seatsupport surface, and a leg support surface to hold a user sitting orlying on the cover, c. locking means associated with each hinged frameconnection to releaseably lock and secure each respective frame segmentin a desired position relative to the other, and e. a pair oftrapezoidal shaped tubular legs having a shorter open top segment than awider foot to contact a support surface segment; each top segmentrestrictively hinged in longitudinal alignment to each seat side of therectangular shaped frame seat segment to form an obtuse angle relativethe seat support surface when held in an open position to spread thefeet wider than the frame second segment so that the spread feet contactthe support surface in a manner to prevent lateral rolling; and fold ata zero angle when each leg is folded flat against the seat supportsurface in a storage position
 2. A foldable lounging recliner or chairaccording to claim 5, wherein the trapezoidal shaped tubular legs have aclosed top segment.
 3. A foldable lounging recliner or chair accordingto claim 1, wherein the locking means include locking hinges with springreleasable locking pins.
 4. A foldable lounging recliner or chairaccording to claim 1, wherein the cover is patterned or colored to suitthe preference of a user.